News, January 30th

Glenwood Springs–A utility bill is not enough identification to vote in an election. So says Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler who spoke to citizens in Glenwood Springs yesterday about election integrity. Gessler says with a Democrat-controlled legislature, he knows it’s an uphill battle but he’d prefer a requirement for photo identification to prove eligibility.

ODD SPEED LIMIT APPROVED IN ASPEN

Aspen–14 miles per hour. That will be the new speed limit on some residential streets in Aspen. The city council approved the oddball speed limit to get people’s attention and to get motorists to slow down. Officials say the old 25 mile an hour limit just wasn’t working.

DRINKING WITH DAD

Denver–It’s called the “Drinking with Dad” bill and if approved by lawmakers, young adults in Colorado between 18 and 21 would be allowed to have alcohol with their parents in restaurants and bars. The bill goes before a House Committee today. The bill is patterned after one that was approved in Wisconsin.

WESTERN SLOPE CONTINUES TO GET POUNDED BY STORM

Glenwood Springs–The current blast of winter has dumped close to two feet of snow on parts of the Western Slope and more is on the way. The snow is expected to taper off sometime tomorrow. High winds are also expected in some areas of northern and central mountains.

SUMMIT COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR SCAM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A federal judge in Minnesota has sentenced a Silverthorne man to more than four years in prison for scamming investors out of $7 million. 37 year old Evan Flaxman was given 4 years and 4 months in prison on mail fraud. In a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Flaxman admitted misrepresenting his financial expertise and resources in convincing his victims to make investments from December 2009 to March 2012. Prosecutors say Flaxman provided one investor with one document which showed purported investment gains. But, authorities say Flaxman instead was using investors’ money for his personal use to buy luxury items like a new Ferrari, a new Porsche and a Rolex watch.